BARRINGTON — Some 24 hearty souls headed out for a hike on the Samuel A Tamposi Water Supply Reserve in Barrington on Jan. 20.

The Barrington Conservation Commission and Natural Heritage Committee sponsored the event, one of a series of hikes which have been offered frequently since August of 2011.

It had been hoped that the event would be on snowshoes, but some warm weather in the days preceding it reduced the snowpack to a level where sturdy hiking boots were more suitable.

Among the highlights of the trip were a visit to the newly-designated Strafford County champion black gum (aka black tupelo) tree, and a sojourn to a beaver dam in the upper reaches of Creek Pond Marsh, which comprises much of the headwaters of the Oyster River.

Protection of the headwaters of the Oyster and Bellamy Rivers was the main reason that Samuel A Tamposi Water Supply Reserve was permanently conserved in 2001.

For information on upcoming hikes, and on big trees, visit the Barrington Conservation Commission website: http://barringtonconcom.org/Home.html